CSWE’s yearly awards recognize outstanding educators, scholars, students, programs, and community partners whose work advances excellence, innovation, justice, and inclusion in social work education. 

These honors highlight meaningful contributions across areas such as racial and social justice, disability scholarship, feminist and womanist scholarship, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, international education, community partnership, mentorship, and student achievement. Award recipients are recognized annually during Annual Conference.

An active CSWE membership is required to be eligible for a CSWE award. 

2026 CSWE Professional Awards

This year's winners will be honored at our 72nd Annual Conference in Atlanta this October. 

Elaine Congress
Dr. Congress is a professor and associate dean at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service in New York City. She began her career serving as a counselor at a Brooklyn mental health clinic, primarily caring for recently arrived immigrants. Dr. Congress has spent the past three decades teaching at Fordham, with courses in clinical, family-oriented, supervisory, and macro social work.

Elaine Congress, DSW, MSSW, MA, LCSW

2026 Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education

April Jones
Dr. Jones is a nationally engaged social work educator, organizational psychologist, licensed master social worker, scholar, and higher education leader whose work advances innovation, equity, and excellence in social work education. She currently serves as Department Chair of Social Sciences at Talladega College, overseeing Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Sociology.

April Lavette Jones, PhD, MEd, MS, LMSW, MSW, BA

2026 Distinguished Recent Contributions to Social Work Education Award

Saltanat Childress
Dr. Childress is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work. Her scholarship focuses on the prevention of interpersonal violence and adverse childhood experiences across the lifespan, particularly among immigrant, refugee, and underserved populations in the United States and low- and middle-income countries.

Saltanat Childress, PhD, MSW

Early Career Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award

Patricia Welch Saleeby
Dr. Saleeby is a professor and program director of social work at Bradley University. She is a leading expert on disability in social work, recognized internationally for her work promoting the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in social work and the application of the Capability Approach as an alternative framework for better situating disability.

Patricia Welch Saleeby, PhD, MSSA, BA

Established Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award

University of Montana
The University of Montana School of Social Work's Field Education Program led by Director Kat Werner, LCSW, MSW—has developed a relationship-centered, place-bound, and justice-oriented model of practicum education designed to expand equitable access to social work education across Montana, the broader Rocky Mountain West, and geographically isolated communities.

University of Montana School of Social Work

Field Education/Practicum Excellence in Innovation Award

Professional Awards

Commission & Council Awards

Location Awards

Memorial Awards & Lectures

JSWE Awards

How are these awards chosen?

Process

Award nominations for Professional Awards, Commissions & Council Awards, and the Carl A. Scott and Hokenstad Lectures open in the first quarter of the year. Only CSWE members are eligible to win Professional or Commissions and Council Awards. Any CSWE member can be nominated, or you can nominate yourself! 

Timeline

Awards nominations typically open in January and remain open until the end of March. CSWE issues a call for award nominations on its website, social media, and in the Compass newsletter.

Requirements

The primary requirement to receive a Professional or Commissions and Councils award is an active CSWE membership. Some awards may have specific requirements that will be explained with the award application. See the application when it opens, or click on the award categories linked near the top of this page.